(taken from Dynamo North East 2018 Fact Sheet)

There are over 39,000 well-paid digital tech jobs in the North East in all sorts of roles

1,300 employers – IT companies and IT in companies:
• Gaming
• Healthcare
• Public Services
• Financial Services
• Digital Marketing
• Consultancy
• Systems Integration
• Government
• Manufacturing
• Utilities

There are around 3,500 vacancies
• All but around a hundred require experience
• More than half are in software and web development, IT management, business development, project management, testing and account management

Growth areas:
• Advanced Manufacturing
• Big Data
• BIM / digital construction
• Car software
• Cloud Computing
• Data Science
• Finance and Accounting
• Games and 3D
• Healthcare and Biomedical
• Internet of Things
• IT Support
• Online Marketing
• Security and Data Protection
• Shared services
• Software as a Service
• Web development

The North East is creating more new businesses than anywhere else in the UK outside of London.
People working in IT and Digital earn more than their peers:

• IT Director/Head of IT (non-board) average £85k
• IT Manager average £52k
• Enterprise Architect average £79k
• Programme Manager average £70k
• Project Manager average £47k
• Security Manager average £72k
• IT Security Officer average £30,000
• Head of Development average £75k
• Development Team Lead average £58k
• Developer average £32k – £58k depending on platform
• Test Manager average £44,000
• Test Lead average £38,000
• Data Scientist average £52,000
• Data Analyst average £24,000
• Business Analyst average £42,000
• Support Engineer average ranges from £22k for desktop support engineer to £36k for infrastructure support

Sources: TechNation, GeekTalent, Dynamo, NigelWright Salary Survey, investnortheastengland

There are more software companies based in the region than anywhere else in the UK outside of London, providing

• Most of the world’s Wi-Fi for trains
• Systems that help make half the country’s beer
• Many of the platforms for online bingo and casinos
• HMRC digital delivery centre
• Systems that most workers in the UK are paid using
• High street banking systems
• High profile apps
• Systems used by high end car retailers to show cars they don’t hold in stock
• Sage – only tech company in the FTSE 100 based in the NE
• Ubisoft Consumer Relationship Centre in Newcastle (200 people working in 16 languages,) and a software studio in Gosforth
• Creative Fuse NE project (all 5 regional universities working together)

 

The north east has great facilities, accelerator programmes and educational institutions
• Sunderland Software City, Evolve Centre
• Cobalt Business Park
• Campus North
• North East Futures UTC
• National Institute for Smart Data and Innovation
• Five universities and many Further Education colleges
• highest proportion of students studying STEM subjects in the UK
• Active local IT scene for young people
• Code Club
• CoderDojo
• AppsforGood
• Maker clubs
• Young Rewired State
• Hackathons

Dynamo North East – The north east’s industry-led IT cluster

• brings together all sorts of people working in IT
  • Colleges
  • Training providers
  • Universities
  • IT Companies
  • Companies with IT sections
  • Councils, health, emergency services, Government
• Connects organisations with similar interests through events, conferences and awards
• Trained over 100 young people though the Dynamo Hub – getting them ready for IT apprenticeships
• Won funding for a new University Technical College for IT and Life Sciences and a National Smart Data Institute

Tech Careers Tips
There’s a job in IT for YOU regardless of the subjects you’re studying – there are over 100 job roles in IT
• All roles: GCSE (or higher) Maths and English
• Online marketing, cyber security, policy, strategy and digital ethics: History, Psychology, Languages, Social sciences
• Wearable biosciences: PE, Biology
• Web and software development: Maths, Engineering, ICT, Computer Science
• Business analysis, project management, supply chain management, business development: Business Studies
• Games, VFX and animation: Degree in Computer Science, Games Programming, Art, Animation or Games Design, preferably from an accredited degree programme. Excellent pathway from Sunderland College’s Level 3 Extended Diploma in Skills

The more work you put in the more choice you’ll have about your future

What employers look for
• POSITIVE ATTITUDE
• Creative problem solving
• Good eye for detail
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Good communication and social skills

Stand out from your friends
• Keep a log of what you do and build a ‘portfolio’ of only the best stuff YOU have done.
• Gain experience of work: volunteer – work for free if you have to
o help people with online skills
o mentor younger students

Contact

membership@dynamonortheast.co.uk